The Viva Vine: vol #2, no #4: September / October 1993
news bits and shorts
Reason # 42 of the revised edition of "101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian" says that crippled
animals brought into stockyards around the country, or "downers," are too often legally left to
suffer for days, as in waiting their turn for slaughter, alive, they may fetch a higher price.
But now, for animal rights advocates, there is a glimmer of hope for change. In April of this
year District Justice Vicki Baumgardner of Pennsylvania found Lancaster Stockyards guilty of
cruelty in an historic case involving an abandoned debilitated cow at the stockyard. Farm
Sanctuary Agent Keith Mohler who found the cow suffering was able to have her properly
euthanized. Later a suit was brought. The victory is, if stockyards are made liable for the
suffering of animals in their custody, they would be careful to not accept crippled animals from
ranchers. The rancher would be forced to treat and ship his animals humanely to avoid their
physical deterioration, or make no money. In a perfect world, of course, those ranchers, the
cause of the problem, would be arrested for animal cruelty at the door of the stockyard. Write
to: The Honorable Vicki Baumgardner, District Justice, 225 West King St., Lancaster, PA 17603, to
thank her and show your support; and contact (please send a donation) Farm Sanctuary, P.O. Box
150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891; call 607/583-2225 for more information.
The city, Watkins Glen, just mentioned, may ring a bell for you. That's because this rural
town was put on the map recently in news stories about Burger King. Due to efforts by Farm
Sanctuary, based there, the local Burger King put a spicy, vegetarian bean burger, on its menu.
It is, so far, the only Burger King franchise to do so. Burger King has set up a toll-free
consumer hotline so you can voice your support for the availability of a veg-burger at every BK
outlet. Without hesitation, go to your phone immediately and voice affirmative to something long
overdue. Call: 1-800-YES-1800.
And while we're on the subject, VivaVegie Society founder Pamela Teisler, chief
veg-evangelist, was in Amsterdam recently. And she did not forget to sample the vegetarian burger
available at some 80 McDonald's outlets there. The McD veg-burger is part of a test marketing in
the Netherlands; and Gail, the young woman at the counter who took the order said that the
vegetarian option is very popular. Pamela noted that surely there must be a lot of people with a
conviction for vegetarianism in Holland, because she did not find the tough, flavorless, and
sauceless burger very good at all.
On the contrary, in London, where Pamela was also, you can find an absolutely great spicy
bean burger at the franchise Casey Jones. Don't miss it next time you're out across the pond.
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